Quint: Looking Ahead to the Champion Challenge

Temperatures are in the high 70's today, partly cloudy skies over ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in central Florida.

On Thursday we competed teleconference calls with Denver coach Bill Tierney and Northwestern coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. Both coaches sounded genuinely excited for the opportunity that playing Team USA represents.

Denver is loaded on offense with Mark Matthews, Alex Demopolous, Cam Flint, Jeremy Noble and Chase Carraro (F/O) back in the playmaking equation.

The million dollar question is at the defensive end where the Pioneers lost their entire rope unit - Alex Drexler (SSDM), Emerson Eichler (SSDM), Jamie MacDonald (LSM) and the entire close defense: Jeff Brown, Steve Simonetti, Brendan Deblois. We will see all new faces against Team USA.

After just ten days of practice, I'm not anticipating a defensive masterpiece against USA players like Kevin and Mike Leveille, Peet Poillon, Max Seibald, Dan Glading, Steve Berger and Stephen Peyser.

I'm most eager to see who Denver rolls out as a second midfield and how their complimentary face-off man (Chase Calkin) fares against USA's Chris Eck. What type of impact may freshman Wes Berg provide? How does sophomore goalie Jamie Faus handle professional level shots?

Coach Tierney admitted that handling the success of 2011 and a trip to Championship weekend was difficult. A fall loss to Harvard seemed to snap the Pioneers out of their celebratory funk.

A few stats stand out from 2011. Denver shot 32%. They were +12 in specialty situations. They won 56% of their face-offs. Their EMO was good.

A sampling of notes from 2011 film study:

Senior shorty's were vastly underrated. DU received timely production from a variety of sources and were much quicker/explosive — with Cameron Flint, Chase Carraro, Jeremy Noble — than opponents realize.

They faced off with their first midfield line and killed opponents with early offense.

Alex Demopolous — hockey assists, conduit, QB, even-keeled, reads the game, not visually pleasing but gets results, circles the crease sneaking with either hand. Will play inside some on EMO and rolls off.

Chase Carraro — A bear to cover, 5-8 and all righty, machine, early offense first 15 seconds of possession with first midfield, get it and go, from Louisville, Kentucky, large family, started lacrosse in seventh grade, St. X HS varsity but club status, ignited second half rally vs. Villanova, fast, balance facing off, two primary moves pinch and pop or clamp and rake between legs to Noble (exceptional wing GB man).

The Pioneers' 2012 schedule includes games with Ohio state, Michigan, a trip to Happy Valley (Penn State), a televised game at Notre Dame, and a neutral field tilt two days later against Rob Pannell and Cornell. Duke is once again on their non-conference agenda. Geographically, the ECAC is a national league - it's the planes, trains and bus league. It tests a team's ability to travel and win on the road while being patient with the TSA agents along the way. Denver will host 2012 ECAC tourney on May 3 and 5.

Teams arrive at varying times Friday. Announcers Eamon McAnaney, Courtney Connor, director John Vassallo and Producer John Kettering will get to watch practices and scrimmages on Saturday and meet with representatives of US Lacrosse to discuss our telecast.

Quint Kessenich covers lacrosse for the ESPN networks and Insidelacrosse. The Champion Challenge can be seen Sunday night on ESPNU.